You see, a third of women are now financially independent, 47 per cent more than 20 years ago. But how does that relate to my wife and am I comfortable about it all?

In 1985 just seven per cent of women earned more than their partner, but today 23 per cent have a bigger pay cheque than their other half, according to Marks & Spencer Money.

How much I would love it if my wife did earn the same or more than me. It would mean our standard of living would be that much more. But, while the children were young, she was happy working part-time running a nursery and tots club, so she could make arrangements to look after them if they fell ill.

And now that the eldest has finished university and the younger one is about to enter his second A level year, she is still showing no sign of wanting to climb the greasy pole.

So, it seems, I can't count on her to keep me in the manner of which I aspire to get accustomed.

The number of women owning their own home has risen over the past couple of decades, with just ten per cent of mortgages taken out by single women in 1983, compared with 23 per cent today.

We've always had a joint mortgage but I do know a number of single women who are doing nicely working the property market. Marrying into money will soon again be a popular route for get rich quick blokes to take.

Nearly half of all couples now have separate bank accounts, with just 35 per cent only having a joint account.

I have always been pretty dubious about joint accounts. The theory, I suppose, is something to do with openness and commitment. But then surely you can be open with each other about your monetary matters while embracing individual discipline.

The way we work it is she keeps all her own earnings while an agreed amount flows from my pay into her account, which includes general housekeeping money.

I pay the mortgage and cough up things like petrol for the car. We do have a joint account for bills - the utilities, council tax and all the rest.

There is also a joint account for savings, such as when a new car is required, and she has her own half-secret " escape route" fund. Thankfully, it's never been needed yet!

Women are also becoming increasingly independent in other areas, with 34 per cent saying they are now responsible for DIY in the home, compared with 36 per cent of men.

Being the world's most hapless DIY person, this is fine by me. I wash the car, do most of the dishes and hang the washing on the line in the summer.

Women also still lag behind men in the salary stakes though, getting paid an average of 12 per cent less than their male counterparts - frankly I have never understood the fuss.

Surely it simply reflects the effect on career and salary of women taking time out to have babies.

So have I passed the test or failed miserably. Is my wife getting a reasonable share of the cake or am I still in the financial Stone Age?